US5730385A - Spring-driven reeler for safety belts - Google Patents

Spring-driven reeler for safety belts Download PDF

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Publication number
US5730385A
US5730385A US08/647,370 US64737096A US5730385A US 5730385 A US5730385 A US 5730385A US 64737096 A US64737096 A US 64737096A US 5730385 A US5730385 A US 5730385A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
draw member
reel
belt
draw
reeler
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US08/647,370
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert Kopetzky
Matthias Pleyer
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Takata Europe Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
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Takata Europe Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
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Publication date
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Assigned to TAKATA (EUROPE) VEHICLE SAFETY, TECHNOLOGY GMBH reassignment TAKATA (EUROPE) VEHICLE SAFETY, TECHNOLOGY GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KOPETZKY, ROBERT, PLEYER, MATTHIAS
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/34—Belt retractors, e.g. reels
    • B60R22/44—Belt retractors, e.g. reels with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
    • B60R22/34—Belt retractors, e.g. reels
    • B60R22/44—Belt retractors, e.g. reels with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions
    • B60R2022/4413—Belt retractors, e.g. reels with means for reducing belt tension during use under normal conditions by connecting the retracting spring to the belt reel by means of a transmission which decreases the spring force when the belt is pulled out, e.g. using conical pulleys

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a spring-driven reeler for safety belts in motor vehicles.
  • the principal object of the present invention is thus to provide a spring-driven reeler of the initially named kind which secures the person making use of the safety belt, at least with a reduced level, even with a draw member breakage.
  • Preferred embodiments of the invention include the provision of clutch and transmission means in accordance with the claims 2 to 6 and 18 is in this respect the safest way of reacting to the breakage of the draw member.
  • Another preferred form is likewise reliable but substantially simpler measure and includes the provision of an auxiliary spring arrangement at the first draw member reel which can be realised with a small degree of cost and complexity.
  • the auxiliary spring arrangement should, however, only make available a certain fraction of the total belt winding force. Preferred ranges include 5 to 40%, and more particularly 30%, of the total winding force.
  • a substantially simpler measure for taking account of draw member breakage is characterised by only the belt draw-out blocking device being set in operation so that a further drawing-out of the safety belt is made impossible.
  • the safety ensured by this embodiment is, however, restricted because an already achieved degree of draw-out of the safety belt cannot be made retrospective.
  • the draw member break detector preferably operates so that in the event of thread breakage, the main spring arrangement strongly accelerates the second draw member reel--which is now relieved--so that a draw member break signal can be obtained both from the acceleration and also from the ultimately achieved higher speed of rotation.
  • Another form likewise includes a measure which is very simple to realise. If one of the two or more partial draw members breaks, the remaining partial draw members can take on its function providing it is correspondingly somewhat over-dimensioned--as should be done in the accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 1 a partly sectioned view of a spring-driven reeler in accordance with the invention for a safety belt, illustrating a first embodiment of the measures which are to be provided in accordance with the invention on draw member breakage,
  • FIGS. 2-5 corresponding views of further embodiments
  • FIG. 6 a side view of a transmission arrangement which can be used in place of the belt transmission shown in broken lines in FIGS. 4 and 5,
  • FIG. 7 a view as in FIGS. 1-5 of a further embodiment
  • FIG. 8 a perspective illustration showing only the two conical draw member reels with the draw member arranged thereon in a preferred embodiment.
  • a belt reeler in accordance with the invention has a belt reel 11 onto which a safety belt 17 can be wound of which only a small piece is indicated.
  • the safety belt is guided in the manner illustrated in broken lines via a customary belt lock 39 around the body of a non-illustrated vehicle occupant to the vehicle chassis 38 and is secured there.
  • the invention is however not only usable with two-point belts but also with three-point belts.
  • the belt reel 11 is rotationally journalled at a housing 26 by means of a rotary shaft 19 which is in turn secured to the vehicle chassis 38 at the bottom.
  • a conically shaped thread reel 12 with a smaller end face 12' and a larger end face 12" is arranged within the housing 26 and is provided at its periphery with a helical guide groove 15.
  • a belt draw-out blocking device 40 is indicated purely schematically which is secured to the vehicle chassis 38 and prevents the further draw-out of the belt 17 in the event of accident-dependent accelerations, and/or in the event of a too sudden pull-out of the safety belt 17.
  • a belt tensioner 41 is schematically illustrated which, on the occurrence of an accident-dependent acceleration in the motor vehicle, winds up the belt reel 11 by a predetermined amount of, for example, 5 to 10 cm, for example through triggering of a pyrotechnical charge, in order to thereby tightly apply the safety belt against the body of a belted-up person.
  • the belt draw-out blocking device 40 the firmly tightened state of the safety belt 17 is maintained until the accident-dependent acceleration has terminated.
  • a further thread reel 14 is provided which extends conically in the opposite direction to the first thread reel with its smaller diameter being the same as the larger diameter of the first thread reel 12.
  • the thread reel 14 is arranged alongside the thread reel 12 with its axis parallel to the axle of rotation 19 and is laterally aligned with the thread reel 12.
  • the left-hand large end face 12" and the right-hand small end face 12' of the small thread reel 12 in FIG. 1 lie substantially in respective planes with the left-hand small end face 14' and the right-hand large end face 14" of the large thread reel 14 respectively.
  • the second guide reel 14 also has a helical guide groove 18 at its periphery.
  • the second thread reel 14 has, in accordance with FIG. 1, a coaxial hollow cavity 21 at the side of its large end face in which a spiral spring arrangement 16 is provided which is secured at one end to a spigot 22 fixed relative to the housing which carries the shaft 20 and at the other end at 21' to the peripheral wall of the hollow cavity 21.
  • the spiral spring arrangement 16 transmits a torque to the thread reel 14 which attempts to wind up a thread 13 laid into its guide groove 18 and secured in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 at 23.
  • the thread 13 extends in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 as a straight-line element 13' from the narrowest part of the thread reel 14 to the part of the guide groove 15 of the first thread reel 12 aligned therewith, where the thread 13 is secured at 24 to the thread reel 12.
  • the thread 13 is largely completely wound onto the thread reel 14 and unwound from the first thread reel 12.
  • the belt coil 25 has the largest diameter on the belt reel 11, i.e. a maximum belt length is now wound up onto the belt reel 11 and the belt 17 is now drawn-in to the furthest extent.
  • the first thread reel 12 rotates in such a direction of rotation that the thread 13 is successively wound onto the first thread reel 12 and successively wound off from the second thread reel 14, with the thread being increasingly laid into the guide groove 15 and removed from the guide groove 18.
  • the main spring arrangement 16 is increasingly tensioned. With a suitable shape of the generatrix of the draw member reels 12, 14, the torque on the second thread reel 14 which increases on tensioning of the spiral spring 16 can be compensated at the belt reel 11.
  • the transmission ratio between the spiral spring arrangement 16 and the belt reel 11 changes during winding up of the thread 13 onto the thread reel 12 and on unwinding from the thread reel 14 so that a constant retraction force or a retraction force graduated as desired is available at the safety belt 17.
  • the draw-out blocking device 40 engages in the customary manner.
  • FIG. 1 Various measures are provided in accordance with FIG. 1 as follows in order to secure the belted-up person in the event of breakage of the thread 13:
  • a thread break detector 27 can be provided at the housing 26 which either directly determines the presence or the tension of the thread piece extending between the thread reels 12 and 14 by means of a thread sensor 27', which is only indicated in broken lines.
  • the thread break detector 27 can be provided with speed sensors 27", 27"' which are arranged close to the outer periphery of the small end face 14' of the second thread reel 14 or of the large end face 12" of the first thread reel 12 and permit the detection of the instantaneous speed of the second thread reel 14 relative to the first thread reel 12 by mechanical, electrical, magnetic or optical means.
  • the thread break detector 27 is connected via a control line 37 to the belt draw out blocking device 40.
  • the thread break detector 27 can trigger the belt draw-out blocking device 40 on detection of a breakage of the thread 13 and can in this way prevent a further draw-out of the safety belt 17.
  • FIG. 2 Another possibility of avoiding a further draw-out of the safety belt 17 in the event of a thread break, and indeed of also bringing about a certain tensioning of the safety belt, consists according to FIG. 2 in connecting the thread break detector 27 via a control line 42 to the belt tensioner 41. This is done so that, on detecting a thread break through the thread break detector 27, the belt tensioner, as in the case of an accident, is triggered. The belt tensioner thus tensions the belt by a predetermined amount, with the belt draw-out blocking device 40 subsequently becoming operative and fixing the relevant drawn-in state of the safety belt 17.
  • the thread break detector 27 should also be connected via a line 43 to a warning lamp 44 or to an acoustic signal generator which is for example mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle.
  • the driver of the vehicle is thus warned by lighting-up of the warning lamp 44 or sounding of the acoustic warn signal on occurrence of a thread break, and is caused to seek a workshop which can exchange the damaged belt reeler.
  • auxiliary spring arrangement 36 indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1 between the first thread reel 12 and the housing 26.
  • This spring 36 exerts a permanent torque on the first thread reel 12 in the direction of winding-up of the safety belt 17 onto the belt reel 11.
  • This torque supplements the torque which is normally exerted by the main spring arrangement 16 via the spring reel 14 and the thread 13 on the first thread reel 12. Accordingly, the main spring arrangement 16 must be made correspondingly weaker.
  • the auxiliary spring arrangement 36 should make available only about 30% of the torque required for the energization of the belt reel 11, whereas the main spring arrangement 16 should make available about 70% of the torque required for the energization of the belt reel 11.
  • both the spring characteristic of the main spring arrangement 16 and also the spring characteristic of the auxiliary spring arrangement 36 can be taken into account.
  • the auxiliary spring arrangement 36 can also be a spiral spring which is preferably arranged in a hollow cavity 29 of the thread reel 12 which is only indicated in broken lines, and indeed in a similar manner to that in which the main spring arrangement 16 is arranged in the hollow cavity 21 of the second thread reel 14.
  • a somewhat more complicated, but particularly effective embodiment according to FIG. 4 provides that the turning of the second thread reel 14 is transmitted to a clutch 31 arranged at the housing 36 which is open in normal operation but which can be engaged by the thread break detector 27 via a control line 30 when a thread break is detected. Then the thread reel 14 transmits its rotary movement via the now engaged clutch 31 to a drive belt pulley 32 provided at its output drive side, the drive belt pulley 32 being connected via a drive belt 33 to a further belt pulley 34 which is rotationally fixedly arranged on the rotary shaft 19 of the belt reel 11 or of the thread reel 12.
  • the centrifugal clutch 31' can be connected via a control line 43' to the warning lamp 44 and cause this to light up when the clutch engages.
  • the transmission formed by the drive belt pulleys 32, 34 and the drive belt 33 can also be replaced by a gear transmission indicated in FIG. 6 consisting of gear wheels 32', 33', 34', with the gear wheel 32' being arranged coaxial to the thread reel 14 and rotationally fixedly connected to it, whereas the gear wheel 33' is freely rotationally journalled at the housing 26.
  • the gear wheel 34' is in turn rotationally fixedly arranged on the rotary shaft 19.
  • the gear wheel 32' When the clutch 31 or 31' engages, the gear wheel 32' is rotationally fixedly connected to the thread reel 14 and thus generates, via the freely rotating gear wheel 33', a rotary movement at the gear wheel 34' in the same direction and thus a rotary movement of the belt reel 11.
  • the second thread reel 14 is furthermore rotationally fixedly connected to the drive pulley 32 while dispensing with the clutch 31 of FIG. 4.
  • the drive belt 33 lies so loosely on the drive belt pulleys 32, 34 that on rotation of the thread reel 14 the rotary drive forces are exclusively transmitted by the thread 13 and not via the belt reels 32, 34 and the drive belt 33 to the belt reel 11.
  • FIG. 8 A further particularly simple alternative for maintaining the function on thread breakage can be found in FIG. 8 where the draw member 13 is realised by two partial draw members 13a, 13b which are arranged parallel to one another on the thread reels 12, 14. If one of the partial draw members 13a, 13b breaks, then the other is still available to maintain the function of the reeler.
  • a thread break detector 27' should be provided which detects the breakage of one of the part threads 13a, 13b which can deliver a corresponding warning signal via the control line 43 to the warning lamp 44 or to an acoustic alarm device.
  • the belt reeler of the invention is accordingly suitable for executing a series of measures in order to ensure at least a restricted functioning of the safety belt arrangement in the event of thread breakage.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
US08/647,370 1995-05-10 1996-05-09 Spring-driven reeler for safety belts Expired - Lifetime US5730385A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19517123.3 1995-05-10
DE19517123A DE19517123A1 (de) 1995-05-10 1995-05-10 Federangetriebener Aufroller für Sicherheitsgurte bei Kraftfahrzeugen

Publications (1)

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US5730385A true US5730385A (en) 1998-03-24

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Family Applications (1)

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US08/647,370 Expired - Lifetime US5730385A (en) 1995-05-10 1996-05-09 Spring-driven reeler for safety belts

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US5730385A (de)
EP (1) EP0742126B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE172414T1 (de)
DE (2) DE19517123A1 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5934595A (en) * 1997-11-19 1999-08-10 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Seat belt retractor with comfort or tension reducing feature
US6405960B2 (en) 2000-01-17 2002-06-18 Takata Corporation Seat belt tension adjuster
US20050184184A1 (en) * 2004-02-24 2005-08-25 Kohlndorfer Kenneth H. Clutch for tension reducer
CN104442688A (zh) * 2014-11-21 2015-03-25 刘琦琴 一种汽车安全带卷收器
CN112758774A (zh) * 2020-12-30 2021-05-07 山西传媒学院 一种新型虚拟现实头盔数据线的支撑装置

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3997126A (en) * 1973-10-30 1976-12-14 Karlsson H I R Spring operated, reversibly rotatable body
US4036449A (en) * 1974-09-06 1977-07-19 Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft Belt roll-up mechanism for a safety belt in a vehicle
US4084765A (en) * 1974-12-24 1978-04-18 Automobiles Peugeot Winding device, in particular for a vehicle safety belt
DE2736998A1 (de) * 1977-08-17 1979-03-01 Volkswagenwerk Ag Aufwickelvorrichtung fuer sicherheitsgurte
GB2118022A (en) * 1982-04-14 1983-10-26 Rainsfords Met Prod Cone pulley drive for seat belt tension control
US5127671A (en) * 1989-06-23 1992-07-07 Takata Corporation Pretensioner system
DE4225073A1 (de) * 1992-07-29 1994-02-03 Takata Europ Gmbh Federangetriebener Aufroller für Sicherheitsgurte bei Kraftfahrzeugen
US5409176A (en) * 1992-07-29 1995-04-25 Takata Corporation Retractor device for a seat belt

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3997126A (en) * 1973-10-30 1976-12-14 Karlsson H I R Spring operated, reversibly rotatable body
US4290564A (en) * 1973-10-30 1981-09-22 Karlsson H I R Spring-operated reversably rotatable body
US4036449A (en) * 1974-09-06 1977-07-19 Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft Belt roll-up mechanism for a safety belt in a vehicle
US4084765A (en) * 1974-12-24 1978-04-18 Automobiles Peugeot Winding device, in particular for a vehicle safety belt
DE2736998A1 (de) * 1977-08-17 1979-03-01 Volkswagenwerk Ag Aufwickelvorrichtung fuer sicherheitsgurte
GB2118022A (en) * 1982-04-14 1983-10-26 Rainsfords Met Prod Cone pulley drive for seat belt tension control
US5127671A (en) * 1989-06-23 1992-07-07 Takata Corporation Pretensioner system
DE4225073A1 (de) * 1992-07-29 1994-02-03 Takata Europ Gmbh Federangetriebener Aufroller für Sicherheitsgurte bei Kraftfahrzeugen
US5409176A (en) * 1992-07-29 1995-04-25 Takata Corporation Retractor device for a seat belt

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5934595A (en) * 1997-11-19 1999-08-10 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Seat belt retractor with comfort or tension reducing feature
US6405960B2 (en) 2000-01-17 2002-06-18 Takata Corporation Seat belt tension adjuster
US20050184184A1 (en) * 2004-02-24 2005-08-25 Kohlndorfer Kenneth H. Clutch for tension reducer
US6966518B2 (en) * 2004-02-24 2005-11-22 Key Safety Systems, Inc. Clutch for tension reducer
CN104442688A (zh) * 2014-11-21 2015-03-25 刘琦琴 一种汽车安全带卷收器
CN104442688B (zh) * 2014-11-21 2017-04-12 徐康庭 一种汽车安全带卷收器
CN112758774A (zh) * 2020-12-30 2021-05-07 山西传媒学院 一种新型虚拟现实头盔数据线的支撑装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE19517123A1 (de) 1996-11-14
EP0742126B1 (de) 1998-10-21
EP0742126A1 (de) 1996-11-13
DE59600693D1 (de) 1998-11-26
ATE172414T1 (de) 1998-11-15

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